Asher let her cling to him for a while, a small, almost imperceptible smirk on his lips. It was like watching a bird with a clipped wing, utterly reliant on him for even the most basic of needs.
Asher Agnes. He was her weakness.
He found satisfaction in her dependence on him, the way her trembling grip on him, clinging like a drowning sailor to a piece of driftwood.
It was enough. Asher knew he would have her wrapped around his finger, no matter what.
Once again, silence settled in the office, but it wasn't a suffocating kind but one with peace and happiness.
Scarlett finally pulled away, her eyes red-rimmed but holding a semblance of calmness Asher hadn't seen in days.
She inhaled deeply, her chest constricting with a strange euphoria as Asher's familiar scent filled her senses.
In a way, it was comforting, something out of the world. It was calmer and more comfortable than anything she felt ever before.
Shame washed over her in waves, a bitter tide of regret. She had failed him, spectacularly. But the past was unchangeable. The only path forward was to accept the consequences, to become the mother Asher – Asher Agnes, this new boy before her.
No matter how much it hurt, she'd become the perfect, supportive mother. No more making similar mistakes ever again. No more pushing him away. No more Elysia, no outside influences.
She would become his confidante, his sole source of comfort, his everything. Even if it meant sacrificing herself, her needs, her very identity as Sword Maiden. She wouldn't let him suffer another moment.
"Maybe…" Scarlett started hesitantly, then stopped, seemingly composing herself.
"There's something else I wanted to talk about."
"Hmm?" He finally responded, yet the lack of curiosity remained.
"The girl you saw earlier…" Scarlett trailed off, searching his face for a reaction – anything.
Pity, maybe, or a flicker of interest, – that's what she'd hoped to see, but his expression remained unreadable..
"Yeah?" His voice held a flat neutrality. But he already knew everything about the girl, her tragic past, and an open book to him.
Even without his abilities, the way her thin frame trembled and her eyes darted nervously around the room like a trapped animal spoke volumes about what she has gone through.
"She's…" Scarlett hesitated, the words catching in her throat. Shame burned in her chest, remembering her past failures. Taking a deep breath. "She's here for a reason."
"Do you want to know why?" Scarlett pressed, a tremor in her voice betraying her forced composure.
Silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating. Finally, Asher lifted his head, his eyes glinting with something akin to amusement.
"New maid, maybe?" Asher shrugged, feigning disinterest.
"Yes," she admitted. "How did you guess?" Scarlett blinked, surprised.
"Just a hunch," he mumbled, keeping his voice low. He didn't want to appear too eager. A flicker of relief crossed Scarlett's face, a fleeting emotion quickly masked by determination.
"Her name is Lillian. I thought…" Her voice trailed off again. This was a gamble, her attempt, a clumsy one at best, to offer him a companion, a friend, and Ally beside Aurora, also someone to break him out of his isolation.
A fleeting touch grazed Scarlett's cheek, as she went into deep thoughts.
Asher had reached up, his fingers brushing hers ever so lightly before retracting as quickly as they came. She felt calm and collected with the light touch, and 'innocent' smile on his lips.
Scarlett continued, her voice gaining a touch of confidence.
"Her name is Lillian, and I… was thinking about making her your personal maid."
"Lillian, huh?" Asher tilted his head, a playful glint in his eyes. The amusement was unmistakable. The way he looked was an innocent boy who found a new toy.
"She seems… bright," Scarlett continued, her voice strained. "And she could use a chance to learn."
She reached out, her fingers intervint with his. As she softly explained.
"It would give her a purpose, a home. You could even oversee her training if you wanted." She genuinely believed a personal maid would benefit him, and a chance to learn responsibility, someone to… keep him company.
'Or someone to keep me under the watch?''
"What about her family?" Asher asked, his voice devoid of any real concern. He knew full well she was an orphan.
"She's an orphan." Scarlett's smile faltered slightly. "Lost her parents during a monster attack last year. Poor thing. A pang of guilt flickered across her face, quickly replaced by a forced cheer. "But she's strong, I can tell."
"If you don't like her. There are other girls in the mansion, you know, Ash. You can ask for any of those maids, you don't have to take her in out of pity." She whispered slowly,
"No," Asher interrupted, his voice surprisingly firm. "Let's talk to her." But she didn't seem to hear this, quickly she reached up to touch a delicate silver bracelet on her wrist, with a smile on her lips.
Moments later, the door creaked open and Stella entered, her expression stoic and polite, guiding a young girl, perhaps a year or two younger than Asher. The girl, thin and pale, fidgeted nervously.
She was far from unattractive, with her wild chestnut hair, more tangled than styled, framed an anxious yet face.
But Asher wasn't interested in her appearance. No, he saw something else entirely. He saw a potential pet.
In his eyes, she looked like a stray kitten – all wide, fearful eyes and ragged clothes clinging barely to her thin frame.
The girl's clothes, though clean, were worn and mended, every ragged tear in her dress, every patch sewn with trembling hands, her puffy eyes and dark circles spoke of sleepless nights of the hardships she'd endured since losing her parents.
She clutched the hem of her simple dress with a white-knuckled grip, her gaze darting around the luxurious room like a trapped animal. When her eyes finally landed on Asher, a tremor ran through her thin frame.
Lillian flinched, quickly dropping her gaze to the worn leather slippers that barely contained her feet.
Slowly she lifted her head again, trying to meet his eyes. Yet, just from his little gaze, she lowered her head.
She has an expression of confusion and bewilderment. Why did she do that? But the mystery remained.
Asher watched her steal a hesitant glance at Stella, who now stood beside Scarlett, offering a silver tray holding two glasses of what looked like fruit juice to Scarlett and Asher.
Asher, still sitting comfortably in Scarlett's lap, took a glass. He swirled the ruby liquid thoughtfully, inhaling the sweet scent. Taking a slow sip, he savoured the unexpected flavour. 'A mental note to ask Stella about this later,' he thought.
Returning his attention to the girl, he found her staring intently at her toes.
Asher slowly rose from Scarlett's lap, the movement drawing her curious gaze, what he was going to do.
Placing the glass of juice on the table, Asher took a few deliberate steps toward the girl, studying her every reaction.
'Heh~' He observed her meticulously, a scientist studying a lab rat. As he drew closer, he could almost smell the emotions emanating from her.